Chipolopolos camp for Lesotho
Lusaka, March 13, 2013, ZANIS —- European based play-maker Fwayo Tembo of Romanian Liga One club Astra Giurgiu makes a return to the Chipolopolo when Zambia plays Lesotho in a 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier while Holland based striker Jacob Mulenga has withdrawn from the squad for medical reasons.
FAZ Communications Manager Erick Mwanza told a media briefing at Football House that Fwayo was one of the five players the Chipolopolo trainer had added to the 19 announced last week.
According to the FAZ official website, Mwanza said that National squad coach Herve Renard has called Fwayo for next week’s match in Maseru, the capital of Lesotho.
The other additions to the squad are towering Zimbabwe based defender Aaron Katebe of FC Platinum, Fackson Kapumbu of CAF Champions League envoys Zanaco, Power Dynamos play-maker Kennedy Mudenda, and Nchanga Rangers’ striker Bonewell Mwape.
Zambia plays Lesotho on Saturday 23rd March at the 20,000 seat Sesotho National which has an artificial turf. Chipolopolo set their training camp in Johannesburg this weekend and fly into Maseru at the end of next week.
“With the calling of Fwayo, Mudenda, Mwape, Katebe and Kapumbu, we have a squad of 23 players. This excludes Netherlands based striker Jacob Mulenga of FC Utrecht who has withdrawn from the squad for medical reasons,” Mwanza said.
“We understand Jacob’s situation and the concerns that have been raised by the FC Utrecht chief of medical Dr Niels who has been consulting extensively with our medical team led by Dr Kabungo and other technical staff for a while now.
“ We have been looking at their medical and other concerns in the framework of the match in Maseru and we are agreed on Jacob being excused from this assignment,” he added.
He said Mulenga should be available for the next round of 2014 qualifiers which Zambia will host between June 1 and 7 against Lesotho and Sudan at the Levy Mwanawasa stadium in Ndola.
Mwanza said FAZ will “as has been our practice, prepare the team adequately and be ready for the challenge of the 23rd of March.”
“This is a very important match as such we are taking it with the seriousness it deserves. Over the last four years, we have demonstrated how best and well to prepare the Chipolopolo and going into Maseru there will be exception. Everything required by the technical staff and squad will be at their disposal to ensure that we are ready for the challenge of what is a very important match on the long road of qualification,” Mwanza said.
The Full Squad:
Kennedy Mweene, Joshua Titima, Racha Kola, Davies Nkausu, Emmanuel M’bola, Stoppila Sunzu, Hichani Himonde, Aaron Katebe, Fackson Kapumbu, Nathan Sinkala, William Njobvu, Chisamba Lungu, Isaac Chansa, Rainford Kalaba, Mukuka Mulenga, Rodrick Kabwe, Kennedy Mudenda, Emmanuel Mayuka, Fwayo Tembo, Collins Mbesuma, Christopher Katongo, Jonas Sakuwaha, Bonewell Mwape.